Targeting the Middle East's rich oil and gas resources,
Washington plans waring against the region one country at a time to replace
independent regimes with client ones.

At issue is achieving total dominance over MENA (Middle
East/North Africa) countries and Central Asia to Russia and China's borders.
Another key objective is removing or marginalizing their regional influence.

Russia is Washington's main military rival. Between them,
they control about 97% of the world's nuclear arsenal with sophisticated
delivery systems able to target strategic global sites.

China also has significant military strength. According
to a 2009 Pentagon report, its naval forces alone are formidable.They number
at least 260 vessels, including 75 or more major warships and over 60 submarines.

In addition, Beijing has hundreds of nuclear warheads,
sophisticated delivery systems, and other strategic weapons. As a result,
it's the region's dominant military power.

<blockquote>Obama said America "is a Pacific
power, and we are here to stay." Military spending amounts "will
not - I repeat, will not - come at the expense of the Asia Pacific."</blockquote>

It does include escalating military tensions with China.
Beijing is very mindful of US belligerence and quest for global dominance.

During his visit, Obama announced boosting America's
Australian presence as part of a broader military buildup targeting China
and Eastern Russia.

Together with South Korea, America's expanding its Asian
footprint on Jeju Island with a strategic naval base for Aegis class attack
ships. They're equipped with sophisticated SM-3 interceptor missiles for
offense, as well as powerful computers and tracking radar for first-strike
capability.

In 2002, Seoul announced construction plans to accommodate
Pentagon officials despite strong local opposition. Located south of Korea
proper, Jeju is its only special autonomous province. It's situated in
the Korea Strait, Southwest of Jeollanam-do Province it separated from
in 1946.

Japan lies Northeast, China due West. Jeju is in central
Northeast Asia. Strategically located Southwest of Japan, East of China
between the East China Sea and Korea Strait shipping lanes, Pentagon officials
value its location to control key shipping lanes and regional waters.

China, of course, is concerned about America's growing
military presence that challenges its regional dominance.

Beijing also rivals Washington economically. The IMF's
2011 World Economic Outlook shows it surpassing America by 2016, based
on purchasing power parity (PPP).

It reflects an appropriate exchange rate between currencies
as measured by the cost of a representative basket of goods in one country
v. another.

Getting them puts them in direct competition with America
that wants unchallenged global control. AFRICOM was established to secure
it and deny Beijing and Russia access.

America tolerates no rivals. Economic, political and
belligerent policies are employed to marginalize and eliminate them. In
contrast, China and Russia establish relationships through mutually beneficial
investments and other economic ties. Longer-term, they matter most.

Targeting Syria and Iran

Last winter, Syria's externally generated uprising began.
Orchestrating change like elsewhere in the region, Washington replicated
its Libya model. Heavily armed insurgents are involved. So are Turkey,
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon's March 14 alliance, other Arab League partners,
and Israel.

Regime change is planned. So far it's short of war, but
it's coming if other measures fail. Middle East analyst Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya
calls the Syrian situation "complicated," because of "several
competing trends of opposition."

Internal and external forces are involved. In Libya,
NATO formed the Transitional National Council (TNC) to replace Gaddafi
and Jamahiriya government. Proxy Syrian National Council (SNC) members
were enlisted to replace Bashar al-Assad's regime after it's ousted.

Internal conflict's raged for months to "isolate,
cripple, and subjugate Damascus." Given Syria's military capability,
expect protracted conflict and violence to continue.

However, disturbing reports about hundreds of US and
NATO Special Forces massing on Syria's border may tip the balance of power
if using them for combat operations is planned, especially if combined
with air operations.

According to former FBI whisleblower Sibel Edmonds, Washington
and other NATO partners have a "secret training camp" at America's
Incirlik, Turkey air base. In April, it began "organiz(ing) and expand(ing)"
Syrian dissidents.

Edmonds says Washington and NATO forces are also training
Turkish troops for a possible Syria strike. In addition, US forces from
Iraq's Ain al-Assad base were transferred to Jordan on December 8 instead
of returning home.

Obama's cynical Fort Bragg speech about withdrawing US
forces from Iraq, in fact, concealed their regional repositioning and continued
Iraq presence on major bases America will keep operating.

In fact, it plans increased numbers of regional forces
through one or more Libyan bases, larger force contingents in Kuwait, expanded
ties with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman, and a greater
overall regional footprint to establish an enhanced "security architecture"
to integrate air, ground, and naval units for future combat missions.

<blockquote>Israel's Mossad-connected DEBKAFile
also said "American special forces troops have been diverted to positions
in Jordan opposite a Syrian tank concentration building up across the kingdom's
northern border."</blockquote>

In addition, America's naval presence includes additional
warships and attack boats, perhaps there for combat, not saber rattling.

Edmonds said NATO forces have conducted training operations
near Syria's border since May. Until now, Western media scoundrels suppressed
it. Still, little about it is reported. The situation bears watching, including
hostile anti-Iranian rhetoric.

In October, Washington falsely charged Iran with plotting
to kill Saudi Arabia's US ambassador. The accusation sounded more like
a bad film plot than real intent. Laughable on its face, it was baseless
propaganda.

In November, outdated, forged, long ago discredited,
and perhaps nonexistent documents were used to claim Iran's developing
nuclear weapons. Again, no credible evidence proves it. Instead, baseless
accusations were used to justify Washington's claim about Iran threatening
world peace.

America and Israel alone hold that distinction along
with Arab League client states supporting their rogue agendas.

On December 15, Manhattan Federal Judge George Daniels
said he'll sign an order accusing Iran, Hezbollah, and Al Qaeda of responsibility
for the 9/11 attacks.

In response to a lawsuit brought by family members of
9/11 victims, he claimed Iran provided material support to Al Qaeda, based
on spurious testimonies from three Iranian defectors whose affidavits remained
sealed during court proceedings.

Expert witnesses never appeared in court to refute them.
Instead Judge Daniels relied solely on anti-Iranian operatives, making
baseless accusations without evidence.

Testimonies given were false. Iran, Hezbollah and Al
Qaeda had nothing to do with a plot hatched in Washington to initiate America's
global war on terror. Ravaging the world one country at a time was planned.

It remains ongoing across the Middle East and Central
Asia. Syria and now Iran are targeted. At issue is regime change throughout
the region to install subservient client states.

The road to Tehran runs through Damascus. Expect belligerence
to persist longer-term. The business of America is war. Waging them alone
matters. New targets replace subdued ones. Nations are pillaged for wealth,
power and dominance. War profiteers want them fought, win, lose or draw.

Iran is hugely important. It has about 10% of proved
world oil reserves. It's second only to Russia in gas resources with about
33 trillion cubic meters. In fact, after a potentially huge new Caspian
Sea discovery, it may rank first.

Washington covets Iran's mineral wealth to control its
supply, price, what nations get access in what amounts, and which ones
don't. Regionally, Iran's the remaining crown jewel. Washington's longstanding
policy is replacing its government with a subservient client regime.

On December 16, Obama told the 71st General Assembly
of the Union for Reform Judaism that America will continue pressuring Iran
with "no options off the table."

One of them is war. Battleground belligerence could rage
across the entire Mediterranean Basin through Central Asia to Russia and
China's borders.

As a result, general war may follow. America's key rivals
may enter. Their interests very much are at stake. Nuclear weapons could
be used.

Preventing potentially global catastrophic destruction
is crucial before it's too late to matter.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive
Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central
time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.